Mahamuni Mandalay

Temple and Pagodas in upper Myanmar. 

The Mahamuni Temple in Mandalay is one of the most venerated in the country and the Mahamuni Temple is a large sacred place where every day hundreds of pilgrims walk through and perform their rites see the travel pictures below.

It has a long historical background, among other there stone slabs and copies of inscriptions recorded during the time of King Bodawpaya. Near the western entry are six bronze figures, two men, three lions and a three-headed elephant in a square building. These were brought from Rakhine state together with the sitting Buddha Sculpture into the temples. 

In fact, these statues are original Khmer from Cambodia taken away by Thais during the war they won. After the Myanmar King Bayinnaung seized and carried them to his capital, Hanthawaddy, Pegu or Bago during his triumphal return from Thailand.

Mahamuni Buddha Mandalay 

the statue is almost 3 m tall

In the year 1660, King Razagyi of Rakhine State removed them and the Buddha Statue to his capital, Mrauk U. 

From there, these figures finally reached their destination at Amarapura. This is the interesting and exciting story of the figures. People believe that whatever ailment one suffers, it can be remedied by rubbing the organic sections of the said statutes. For example, if you have stomach trouble, you rub the navel of the figure. Hence, you will now witness those parts shining where the people rub most. 

Mahamuni bronze figures

Mahamuni turtles and fish pond

There is a big pond of turtles in the south-east of the pagoda. During the conveyance of the Great Image , many captives were brought along and they were settled around the precincts. If you wish to know the detail of the said conveyance, you can study the stone inscription that lie in the north-east of the shrine.

The Mahamuni temple and pagoda. 

This religious compound houses the most venerated Buddha image in Mandalay, a huge sculpture called Payagyi “the great Buddha” by the devotees with reverence and veneration, Mahamuni means “The Exalted Sage and Saint”.

This colossal sitting statue was brought from Myohaung, today Mrauk U, in Rakhine or Arakan state during the reign of King Bodawpaya in 1784 over mountain ranges and the Irrawaddy to be enshrined in a special building in Amarapura.

The hall caught fire many years ago, but the image was saved, since it was made of alloy and being heavily gilded with gold leaves, the fire couldn't destroy it. The gold cover is increasing day by day; It's estimated the Sculpture weigh more than one ton of gold now.

The golden crown is studded with plenty of precious stones, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, jade, diamonds, etc. all donated by pious devotees.

Legend tells that the great statue was blessed and hallowed by Buddha. 

himself due to the undying legend. In the Maha Sakarit year 97, Dinnyawaddy Rakhine Kingdom was ruled by King Canda Thuriya. He was a devout devotee and wanted to worship the living Buddha to listen to his sermons.

He repeatedly pleaded Budda to pay a visit to his state. During the occasion of his 26th anniversary of his reign he came accompanied by Shin Arahan and 500 disciples, they landed on the summit of Salagiri Hill near Kyauktaw town.

The Rakhine King was overwhelmed with delight and he readily and promptly attended them with his Chief Queen Sandra Mala and a retinue of ministers, generals and officials.

Buddha Face, the Washing Ceremony

People have strong belief that the great sculpture personified the living Buddha and they want to do something in honor of him and gain merit.

One of the rituals is washing the face with fragrant scented water and cleaning the teeth.The current Ven. Sayadaw Buddhanta Pannya Vamsa of South Htilin monastery, Pitaka Kyaung, did this washing and cleaning procedure at dawn, as seen in the picture right.

The washing and cleaning ceremony starts at 4.30 a.m. every day and the towels are offered by lay devotees and after the ceremony, the towels are given to the worshippers. Only male devotees are permitted to apply gold leaf on the statue. For female worshippers, the said kind of donation is carried out by pagoda officials on their behalf.